Apparatus for abrasively treating metal articles



June 18, 1940. vRffw, GUn- E 2,204,588

APPARATUS FOR ABRASIVELY TREATINGVMETAL ARTICLES A Filed July 20,' 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 June` 18, 1940. A R. w- GUn-E 2,204,588

APPARATUS FOR ABRASIVELY TREATING METAL ARTICLES Filed July 20, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 18, 1940.

R. w. GulTE 2,294,588

APPARATUS Fox ABRAsIvELY TREATING METAL. ARTICLES Filed July 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Mmmm @ma www@ ` ATTORN EY Patented June 18,

UNITED STATES .APPARATUS FOR ABBASIVELY TBEATING t METAL ARTICLES Boy William Gaite, Mishawaka, Ind., assignor to The American Foundry Equipment Company, Mishawaka, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application July 20, 1937, Serial No. 154,529 l 9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for abra- .slvely treating metal articles and more particularly to such apparatus having an arrangement for removing abrasive andloosened foreign matter from the work-piece.

According to the present invention, thel apparatus comprises suitable apparatus such as a belt conveyor or conveyors for advancing a work-piece l along a predetermined path. One or more abra- ;l0 sive projectors are provided for projecting a stream of particles for cleaning or otherwise treating the work-piece. 'I'he projector vprefer ably comprises a rotary centrifugal throwing wheel having means associated therewith for controlling the flight of the thrown particles. One or more auxiliary conveyors is disposed closely adjacent the path of. the work-piece and is adapted to receive abrasive which rebounds. from the top surface of the work-piece and conveys it away from the work-piece. Suitably shaped and arranged baiiles are provided for` assisting in directing the rebounding abrasive into the auxiliary conveyor or conveyors. A blower or airblast device is provided which has a nozzle disposed closely adjacent the path of the top surface of the work-piece and of such shape that a blast of air is directed outwardly `across the surface of the work-piece to remove therefrom any loosened rust, scale, or other foreign matter, as well as any particles of treating material which are not collected by the auxiliary conveyors.

.An object of the invention is `the provision of apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating metal articles, which apparatus has associated` abrasive from the work-piece and collecting and returning such abrasive for further use. Y Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the `accompanyingdrawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. certain of the parts being broken away l :Lind sectioned in order to illustrate the construcon;` l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus,l certain of the parts being broken away for convenience in illustration; and

Fig. 3 is a view showing a transverse section taken along line 3 3 of Fig. l.

In the following description and in the claims, f various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as thev art will permit. Like reference characters Adenote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and formin part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention. v

The apparatus is particularly well adapted for treating sheets, strips, plates and other flat metal members and for the purposes of illustrating the invention, sheet or strip treating apparatus is disclosed. However, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of application with many different types of work-pieces.

The apparatus includes a housing l .of suitable construction having a front wall 2, rearwall 3 side Walls I and f5 and a top wall 6. The housing is provided with a bottom l which preferably is formedwith inclined portions which define a hopper for collecting spent abrasive, as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

An inlet i0 is provided in the rear wall 3 and an outlet Il is provided in the front wall 2. An upwardly opening extension 8 projects from the front wall 2 and is associated with the main portion of the housing and the outlet Il for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. 45

A conveyor is provided `for advancing sheet,' strip or other flat elongated material S through the housing. The conveyor preferably comprises an endless belt I5 `trained over rotatable rolls I6 and I1 suitably mounted, as by shafts I8 and I I9. The upper carry of the belt I5 is adapted to receive and support the sheet S'so that the` same extends through the inlet I0 and outlet Il w TheV belt I5 extends through the opening Il in the front Wall 2 and through an opening 20 provided fer permitting the 'pssage of the beit. It

lthrough an opening 26.

will be noted that the forward roll I is disposed in the extension lso that the adjacent portion of the belt supports a portion of the sheet therein. A second beltV 2| is trained over rotatable rolls 22 and 23 suitably mounted on shafts 24 and 25, which belt is positioned so that its lower carry bears against thetop surface of the sheet and maintainsthe same in 'contact'with the belt I5. The roll 23 is disposed outside the housing and the belt A2I extends through the inlet I0 and An idler roll 21 lis mounted under the belt 2l in position to support the sheet S at a point beyond the end` of the belt I5.

It will be noted that the belts I5 and 2I` overlap somewhat at the rolls I1 and 22 whereby the belts grip the vsheetS with sufficient friction to advance the sheet S through the housing when the belts are caused to travel.

Carried on the shafts I3 and 24 respectively are gears 25 and `29 which mesh and thereby mechanically connect the rolls I1 and 22; consequently, the belts I5 and 2l can be driven at the same speed.

A member, such as a pulley I4, may be carried on the shaft I6 and suitable driving means (not shown) may be connected thereto for driving the Mounted on the top Wall6 of the housing is an abrasive projector A for projecting a divergent stream of treating material into the interior of the housing and against the vtop surface of the sheet S on the conveyor. A somewhatsimilar wheel B is mounted to project a somewhat similar stream of abrasive b against the lowerI surface of the sheet S ata point between the roll-I1 and the idler roll 21. f

Although the projectors A and B may-take various forms, preferably. they are of the centrifugal type having means associated therewith for controlling the direction of flight of the thrown treating material. Inasmuchl as each of the wheels is substantially similar in construction, only vthe wheel A will be described in detail herein, it being understood that the portions of the wheel B which are not described are generally similar to the corresponding portions of the projector A. The projector A includes'a wheel I3 comprising a plurality of throwing blades 30 which extend in a generally radial direction from adjacent the periphery of the wheel and which terminate at points inwardly short of the center to provide a central space 3l. Disposed in the space 3| is an impeller 32 having a plurality of radially directed vanes 33. Surrounding the space and the impeller 32 is a relatively stationary and independently mounted control member 34 having oneor more discharge outlets 35. l

f The blades 30 preferably are supported by one or more side wall members 36 and 31, one of which is carried on a hub 39 mounted on a rotatable shaft 40 which is journaled in stationary bearings 4I. The impeller 32 preferably rotates with the blades and may be connected to 'the 'shaft 40.' A motor 42 is suitably mounted, asfor example,on the top wally 6, and is connected to the shaft 40 by a drive 43V for rotating the The wheel extends through an opening 41 in the top wall 6 and may be provided with an enclosing casing 46. Baiiles 49 may be provided Afor forming a depending extension of the casing 48 and may be supported from the top wall 6 as by suitable brackets 50. i

The wheel is supplied with treating material by a feed pipe 45 which extends through the housing 46 and leads to an opening 46 in the side plate, 36 whereby the treating material is delivered to the impeller 32.y

The ,treating material, sometimes referred to as abrasive, may comprise granular material,

such as cracked steel grit, steel shot, sharp quartz sand, or other cleaning, abrading, polishing or hardening material. 'I'he material selected will, of course, depend upon the surface eiiect desired. It will therefore be understood that where the term."treating material or "abrasive is used it includes within its range all materials useful for cleaning, polishing, hardening or otherwise divergent stream which produces an elongated,

generally rectangular, impingement pattern on a plane passing below and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. The direction of flight of the treating material can be controlled by suitable adjustment of the clock dial position of the control member about the axis of the wheel. l

Preferably, the wheel is so designed and operated that the stream a of treating material terminates approximately at the longitudinal edges of the sheet S. Thus,`the entire surface of the sheet is subjected to the action of the treating material and all of the treating material is effective.

The projector B is suitably mounted below the sheetv S in a suitable manner. Preferably, the shaft 40 extends through a suitable opening 52 in a recessed portion 5I of the rear wall 3 and the bearings 4I are mounted on a bracket 53. 'I'he `shaft is rotated-by a motor 42 connected to the I B strikes the lower surface of the sheet S and falls by gravity into the hopper-like bottom 1 of the housing. If desired, a pair of baiiles and 16 are mounted on both sides of the abrasive stream b and adjace'nt the rolls I1 and 21'respective1y to protect the belt I5 and roll 21 from flying abrasive.` One or more sets of flexible wipers 11 and 18 may be mounted adjacent the baliies 15 and 16, as shown particularly in Fig. 1, positioned to bear against the lower surface of the sheet S and thus prevent the rebounding abrasive from striking the belt I5 or the roll 21. If desired, the wiper or wipers 11 may be suiilciently rigid to scrape from the lower surface of the sheet S any loosened scale, rust or foreign matter so that the accesos same is not carried into contact with the belt I6. drives a sprocket 94 over which is `trained a chain The abrasive which is thrown by the projector A strikes the top surface of the sheet S and rebounds therefrom. Disposed adjacent theimpingement pattern X of the stream' A on both sides thereof `are yconveyors 65, 66 which extend transversely of the sheet S. The conveyors are preferably similar in construction andveach in-v cludes an endless member, such as a belt 61 trained over rolls 68 and 69 carried` on shafts 16 and 1I respectively. The belt 61 is mounted so as to engirdle the sheet S and the upper carry of the conveyor I6, the upper carry of the belt 61 being disposed closely adjacent the strip S. The lower carry of the belt61 is disposed above the lower carry of the belt I5.

The conveyor members 61 may take any suitable form but itis preferable to give them such form that they receive and retain abrasive partl' cles which have been disposed thereon. There'- fore, preferably the rolls 68 and 69 are formed with arcuate peripheries which impart an arcuate cross-sectional shape to the belt 61, thus constitutingin effect a transversely extending trough.

Disposed above the conveyors 65 and 66 and adjacent the projector A is a pair of baflles 12, 13 which diverge both laterally away from the projector A and upwardly away from a point closely adjacent the belt I5. The location and shape of the baflles are such that abrasive particles which rebound from the strip S strike the bailles and are directed into one or the other of the conveyors 65, 66. A baille 14 extends from the conveyor 65 upwardly in position to further assist in directing abrasive into the belt 61 and a lbaille 16 extends upwardly away from the conveyor 66:

this baille also serves to protect the belt 2l from flying abrasive.

'Ihe lower portion of the hopper-like bottom 1 is formed as a trough 19 which leads to an elevator 8|; the front wall 2 is provided with an opening '9 to permit abrasive to pass from the extension and into the hopper-like bottom 1. Disposed in the trough 19 is a conveyor screw 80 carf ried on a shaft 91 for conveying the abrasive to the elevator.

The elevator 9| extends upwardly to the storage hopper 60 and is adapted to elevate the spent abrasive and deposit it in the storage hopper-66 The elevator 8| preferably comprisesi'anjndle belt s2 carrying lift buckets aait'rhel-beltftzls trained over drums 84 and 85'rotatably"mo1 1fnted` The elevator buckets'may discharge into a cleaner 89 of suitable construction adapted to remove dust, dirt and other foreign matter from the spent abrasive. The cleaned abrasive then drops into `the storage hopper 60 from whence it is supplied to the projectors as above described.

The several above-described portions of the apparatus -which constitute the abrasive oonveying apparatus, preferably are driven from a single source of power and are interconnected so that thteyV are synchronized and abrasive is conveyed through the apparatus in a suitably con-L trolled now which is synchronized at its several portions. Thus, there is no `opportunity for the abrasive to accumulate in undue quantity at any portion of its path of movement.

The driving apparatus comprises a motor 90 whichmay, if` desired, drivea speed reducerV 9| connected by a drive chain 92 to a sprocket 93 carried on the shaft 81. above described, connected by the belt 82 to the drum 94 carried on the shaft 66. The shaft 96 The shaft 81 is, as

96, also trained over a sprocket 96 carried on the conveyor screw shaft 91. The sprocket 94 also drives a chain trained over a sprocket IOI which in turn is connected-through gearing |02 to a sprocket |03. The sprocket |03 drives a chain |04 which is trained over a sprocket |05 carried on the shaft 10.` It will, therefore, be seen that when the motor 90 is energized it drives in synchronism the transverse conveyors 65 and 66, the control screw 00 and the elevator belt 82, whereby the spent abrasive is transported from the conveyors 66 and 66 to the storage hopper 60 in a suitably controlled, continuous and substantially synchronized flow. Disposed above the upper carry of the conveyor l belt I5 is a nozzle IIO of angular wedge shape. The nozzle is provided with an elongated outlet opening III disposed closely adjacent the upper surface of the sheet S at a point adjacent the forward edge of the transverse conveyor 65. The nozzle opening III is of V-shape with its apex approximately on the center line of the sheet S and diverglng outwardly from rear to front of the housing, the outer ends of the opening extending slightly beyond the edges of the sheet S. The nozzle I|0 extends through the front wall 2 of the housing and is located partially within the housing under the baille 14 and partially in the extension 8.

A blast of air is provided by a suitable source of air pressure, such as a centrifugal pump H3 driven by a motor I I4, which may be disposed on the top wall 6 of the housing.

One or more downwardly inclined baffles II5 may extend inwardly and downwardly from the sides of the extension to cooperate with the baille 14 and adjacent portion of the front wall 2 for the purpose of preventing escape of dust, dirt, scale or abrasive material from the housing.

The ,operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The motors 42 are energized to rotate the wheels I3 of the projectors A and B and abrasive is fed to the wheels from the storage hopper 60.` The projectors A and B thus project streams a and b downwardly and upwardly, respectively. -A sheet, st'ri'pyorl other fiat, elongated piece -of, material ispassedinto the housing I through ,e inlet I0 and engaged with the belts 2l and I5. The belts.2| and I5 are driven 4from the pulley I4 in a manner above described and ad- Vance the sheet S through the housing and through the streams b and a, the former stream striking against the lower surface of sheet S and the latter stream striking against the upper surface of sheet S.

The spent abrasive thrown by the projector B drops into the hopper-like bottom 1, as described. The abrasive thrown by the projector A strikes the sheet S and rebounds therefrom, striking against either the baille 12 or the baille 13 from whence the abrasive rebounds and falls into either the conveyor 65 or the conveyor 66. Certain of abrasive willV rebound from the bafiles 14 and 15' and fall into the respective conveyors. The majority of the abrasive particles which are thrown by the projector A thus will be collected `in the conveyors 65 and 66.

Conveyors 65 and 66 travel transversely of the.

housing and when the abrasive carried thereon reaches the end of the upper carry of the belts 61, 61, it drops therefrom and falls into the hoppr-like bottom 1 and is collected in the trough 1 The conveyor screw 80 urges the abrasive to the side of the housing and forces it into the elevator 8|. The lift buckets 83 carry the abrasive to the top of the elevator and deposit itin the .cleaner 89 from whence the cleaned abrasive drops into the storage hopper 60. The blower motor IH also is energized and drives the blower H3 which forces a blast of air through the nozzle Ill). The air is ejected through `the V-shaped opening ill and passes laterally along the surface of the sheet S to the side edges thereof. The blast of air is of suiiicient strength to force off the sheet S any abrasive particles which vwere not collected by the transverse conveyor 65 and 66 which vremain on the sheet, as well as" any loosened scale, rust and the like. Thus, when the sheet S passes beyond the extension 8, no abrasive particles or particles of scale, rust or foreign matter remain thereon. The present invention' provides apparatus whereby sheets, strips or other/ iiat elongated pieces of material can'be appropriately cleaned or otherwise treatecLand issue fromthe apparatus in fully cleaned condition and without carrying thereon any particles of abrasive, rust, scale or other foreign matter. The apparatus also insures that the abrasive particles are confined to the housing and are not carried therefrom by the sheet or strip. I

The apparatus is substantially entirely automatic in operation and requires the minimum of attention on the part of an attendant. The several portions of the conveying mechanism for the abrasive are interconnected so that the abrasive is collected and transported in a substantially continuous, even and synchronized stream. Therefore, the opportunity for the abrasiveto accumulate at any portion of the apparatus other than the intended portion, such as the storage hopper, is eliminated. ,e

, While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are` pointed out in the said stream of abrasive, means for removing spent abrasive, including an endless belt engirdling said work-piece conveyor and the sheet or strip carried thereon, and baille means for directing rebounding abrasive on to said belt.

2. Apparatus for blast cleaning and treating metal sheets, strips and the like comprising, a

substantially horizontally extending work-piece.

conveyor, a rotary centrifugal throwing wheel operative to project abrasive particles at blasting velocities in a controlled downwardly directed stream having an elongated impingement pattern extending transversely of the path of travel of the work-piece on said conveyor, an abrasive conveyor extending transversely of the path vof travel of the work-piece supported on said conveyor positioned on each side of and closely adjacent to the impingement pattern produced by said stream, and inclined baiiies for dividing the rebounding abrasive particles into two laterally deflected rebounding streams, which rebounding streams are directed by said baiiies onto said abrasive conveyors.

3. Apparatus for blast cleaning and treating metalsheets, strips and the-like comprising, a substantially horizontally extending work-piece supporting conveyor, an abrasive projector operative to tire abrasive particles at blasting velocities in a controlled downwardly directed stream having an impingement pattern extending transversely of said work-piece supporting conveyor, an abrasive conveyor extending transversely of said article conveyor 'positionedvon each side oi and closely adjacent the impingementr patternf produced by said stream on the work-piece, and an inclined baille for dividing the rebounding abrasive particles into two streams, which rebounding streams are directed by said baffles onto said abrasive conveyors.

4.Apparatus for blast cleaning and treating metal sheets, strips and the like comprising, a substantially horizontally extending work-piece supporting conveyor, an abrasive projector operative to re a stream of abrasive particles against the work-piecev supported on said conveyor, an endless belt engirdling Isaid work-piece conveyor and the work-piece supported thereon for collecting and removing rebounding abrasive,

and baille means for directing the rebounding abrasive onto said belt.

5. Apparatus for blast cleaning and treating metal sheets, strips and the like comprising, a

substantially horizontally extending work-piece supporting conveyor, an abrasive projector operative to fire a stream of abrasive particles against the work-piece supported on said conveyor, a

. pair ofA endless abrasive collecting belts engirdling said work-piece conveyor and the work-piece supported thereon so arranged as to permit the stream of red abrasive particles to pass therebetween, and baiiie means for directing rebounding abrasive onto said belts. l,

6. Apparatus for blast cleaning and treating metal sheets, strips and the like comprising, a substantially horizontally extending work-piece supporting conveyor, an abrasive projector operative to re a stream of abrasive particles against the work-piece supported and advanced by said conveyor, a pair of endless abrasive collecting belts engirdling said work-piece conveyor and the work-piece supported thereon so arranged as to permit the stream of iired abrasive particles to pass therebetween, and baille means for dividing the rebounding abrasive particles into two streams, which rebounding streams arel directed by said baille means onto said abrasivev conveying belts.

7. Apparatus for blast cleaning andtreating metal sheets, strips and the like comprising, a substantially horizontal work-piece advancing conveyor, a rotatably mounted centrifugal abrasive throwing wheel operative to nre abrasive particles in a downwardly directed stream having an elongated impingement pattern, means includving a plurality of mechanical abrasive carrying conveyors extending transversely of the path of travel of the work-piece on said conveyor,` said abrasive conveyors being located on both sides of and closely adjacent the impingement pattern produced by said stream on the work-piece, and baille means disposed adjacent said wheel dividing the rebounding abrasive particles into two streams, said baille means being inclined toward said abrasive conveyors whereby to direct the rebounding abrasive streams onto said abrasive conveyors.

8. Apparatus for blast cleaning metallic articles including, a housing, a substantially horlzontally extending conveyor for transporting the articles to be cleaned through said housing, a centrifugal abrasive throwing wheel operative to throw a downwardly directed stream of abrasive at blasting velocities against the articles transported by said conveyor, means for removing abrasive and extraneous particles loosened from the articles impinged by the abrasive stream, said means including a fan casing, a rotatable fan Within said casing, a conduit leading from said casing into said housing. said conduit terminating in a laterally iiared hood extending over said conveyor, said hood having downwardly inclined top and bottom walls converging toward one another to delne two mouth portions of limited cross-- sectional area positioned closely adjacent the article supported on said conveyor, said mouth portions meeting at an apex adjacent the midsection of said conveyor, each of said mouth portions extending diagonally with respect to the direction of movement of said conveyor to eiect a flow of air along the surface of an article on said conveyor in a direction diagonally of the di rection of travel of said article, and a hopper in said housing and below said conveyor for receiving the spent abrasive and loosened extraneous particles removed from said articles.

9. Apparatus for blast cleaning metallic articles including a housing, a horizontally extending conveyor for transporting the articles to be cleaned through said housing, an abrasive projector operated to throw a downwardly directed stream of abrasive particles at blasting velocities against the articles transported on said conveyor, means for removing abrasive and extraneous matter from the articles impinged by the abrasive stream, said means including an endless belt engirdling said conveyor and the articles supported thereon, bafiie means for directing rebounding abrasive onto said belt, and means for producing a current of air moving along the surface of the articles supported on said conveyor for removing the remaining abrasive and extraneous matter from said articles not conveyed away by said belt. ROY "i" l- 1 GPUITE. 

